Pat's hit by late fightback
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC hopes of progressing to the second round of the Intertoto Cup were damaged by two late sucker punches as they lost 3-2 against Croatian side Rijeka on Saturday night.
St Pat's, who were playing in the competition after a 15 point deduction ended their Champions League dream, went in front through veteran Paul Osam just before the break only for Mate Brajkovic to level on 52 minutes.
Ger McCarthy finished off his fine run with a 25 yard shot that put Pat's in front again with 12 minutes remaining in the game.
However, two goals in the dying minutes from striker Sandro Klic gave Rijeka a dramatic victory although with two away goals to take into next weekend's second leg at Richmond Park, Dolan's side will still be confident of progressing.
The game also saw some St Pat's fans removed from the ground by police as a safety precaution after trouble on the terraces.
Rijeka: Tafra, Vincetic, Caval, Skocibusic, G Brajkovic, Racki (Modric 90), Shkembi, M Brajkovic (Mikac 86), Weiss, Ivancic, Mestrovic (Klic 71).
St Patrick's Athletic: Kelly, Croly, Burke, Marney, Maguire (Holt 86), Foley, Osam, Russell, McCarthy, Livingstone (Donnelly 54), Griffin. Booked: Livingstone, Kelly, Burke
Irish Independent
